Priming device



Aug. 27, 1935. 1 B DYER l 2,012,757

PRIMING DEVICE Filed May 25, 1930 Patented Aug. 27, 1935 i PATENT OFFICE PRIMING DEVICE .lohn B. Dyer, Pendleton, Ind., assignor, by mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application May 23, 1930, Serial No. 454,915

13 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to a priming device for internal combustion engines, and particularly to priming devices which are controlled by the starter switch and operated simultaneously with the starting motor.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means for forming a mixture of air and finely divided liquid fuel and fuel vapor and for delivering this mixture to the intake ports of l the engine under pressure on operation of the starting motor, so that a highly combustible fuel charge ls delivered to the engine cylinders during operation of the starting motor.

It ls a further object of this invention to provide means for controlling the admission of fuel and air to the atomizing device auomatically, so that fuel and air are supplied by the atomizing device only during suchtime as the starting motor is operated.

'I'hese objects are accomplished according to the present invention by the provision of an atomizing device to which fuel is fed from the ordinary vacuum tank, and in which the fuel is broken up and mixed with air by a power driven rotor which forces the mixture thus formed under Pressure, through conduits communicating with the intake manifold of the engine at a point immediately adjacent the engine intake ports. The atomizer is driven by a separate motor and is arranged in circuit with the starting motor so that such motor is set into operation whenever the starting switch is operated, while automatically operated valves are provided which are opened to admit fuel and air to the atomizing devite only when the rotor in said device is in opera on.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an engine provided 4I with the present invention.

Fig. 2 ls an enlarged view of the atomizer device with parts broken away to show other parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the parts in in- 50 operative position.

Fig. 4 is a detail section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the reference numeral III indicates the cylinder block of a six cylinder engine of conventional type. The refer- I5 ence numeral I2 indicates the intake manifold,

to which a carburetor I4 of conventional form supplies a combustible mixture in the usual way. 'I'he fuel reservoir I 6 of the carburetor is adapted to be supplied with fuel from the ordinary vacuum tank I8 of well-known construction, this vacuum tank being also effective to supply fuel to the atomizing device which constitutes the present invention, and which is hereinafter described in detail. The starting motor is indicated at and is controlled by a switch 22 mounted on 10 the floor board 24 of the vehicle in the usual way.

It is ordinarily dilcult to start internal combustion engines when equipped with carburetors of the conventional type for the reason that fuel is not distributed properly to the various cyl- 15 nders, there being a. very slight velocity of flow through the manifold at such time due to the low speed at which the starting motor turns the engine and the air restriction effected by the choke and throttle. 'I'he fuel which is supplied to the go manifold from the carburetor, although delivered to an area in which a high suction is maintained, will follow irregular paths through the manifold, some of it being precipitated on the walls thereof, and will be delivered in variable quantities 25 to the various different cylinders. According to the present invention, the fuel which is employed for starting purposes is not delivered to the inlet end of the intake manifold, but is admitted to the manifold close to the outlet ends of the various delivery branches and is delivered thereto under pressure in the form of a mixture 0f very finely divided fuel particles suspended in air moving at high velocity, so that substantially the same quantity of fuel will be delivered to the various cylinders in a form which is readily ignited.

In order to accomplish the result above referred to, applicant has provided an atomizing device indicated in its entirety by the reference. numeral 26, which is secured by bolts 28 to a supo port projecting from the engine block. The atomizing device comprises a rotating element 30 mounted on the armature shaft 32 of an electric motor 34, so as to be rotatable therewith or movable axially thereto, in a manner fully described hereinafter.

The rotating element 30 is located within a housing 36 secured in any desirable manner to the motor housing and comprises a blower fan having a hub 38, a projecting flange 40 integral 50 therewith and spiral fan blades 42. Within the hub 38, spaced therefrom and integral therewith, is a sleeve 44, the interior of which is threaded to engage a steep pitch thread 46 formed on the motor shaft. In the space between the sleeve 44 for, means for admitting fuel and air to said housing, valves for controlling the admission of 'fuel and air, and means for operating the valves during axial movement of the rotor.

6. A priming device for an internal combustion engine comprising conduits adapted to deliver lfuel to the intake ports, an atomizing device for forming a mixture of fuel and air, and means for delivering said mixture under pressure to the intake ports of the engine, said atomizing device comprising a rotor, a housing therefor, means for admitting air. and fuel to the housing, and valves on the rotor for controlling the admission of fuel and air to said housing.

'7. A priming device for an internal combustion engine comprising conduits adapted to deliver fuel to the intake ports, an atomizing device for forming a mixture of fuel and air, and means for delivering said mixture under pressure to the intake ports of the engine, said atomizing device comprising a rotor having axial and rotational lmovement, a housing therefor, means for admitting fuel and air to said housing, valves on the rotor for controlling the admission of fuel and air to said housing, and means for moving the rotor axially to open said valves.

8. A priming device for an internal combustion engine comprising conduits adapted to deliver fuel to the intake ports, an atomizing device for forming a mixture of fuel and air, and means fo;` delivering said mixture under pressure to the intake ports of the engine, said atomizing device comprising a rotor having axial and rotational movement, a housing therefor, means for admitting fuel and air to said housing, valves on the rotor for controlling -the admission of fuel and air to said housing, a starting motor, and means for moving said rotor axially on operation of the starting motor to open said valves.

9. A priming device for an internal combustion engine comprising Vin combination, a manifold adapted to supply fuel mixture to the intake ports, conduits adapted to deliver fuel to the manifold adjacent said intakeports, an atomizing device for forming a mixture of fuel and air, and for delivering said mixture under pressure to said conduits, said atomizing device comprising a normally stationary rotor, a housing therefor, means for admitting fuel and air to said housing, normally closed valves for controlling the admission of air and fuel, a starting motor, and means operated by said rotor for opening the valves when the rotor is operated by the starting motor.

l0. A priming device for an internal combustion engine comprising conduits adapted to deliver fuel'to the 'engine intake rts, an atomizing device for forming a mixture of fuel and air and for delivering said mixture to said conduits, said atomizing device comprising a rotor, a housing therefor, valve means-for. controlling the ad-l mission of air and fuel to the housing, a starting motor, auxiliary motor for driving said rotor and in circuit with the starting motor, a shaft driven by said auxiliary motor and having helical threads thereon engaging the rotor whereby the rotor is movable axially of said shaft and rotated thereby, and means .whereby the axial movement of said rotor operates said valve means.

ll. A priming device for an internal combustion engine comprising conduits adapted to deliver fuel to the intake ports, an atomizing device for forming a mixture of fuel and air, and means for delivering said mixture under pressure to the intake ports of the engine, said atomizing device\ comprising a rotor, a housing therefor, means `for admitting air and fuel to the housing, and separate valves operable by the rotor for controlling the admission of fuel and air to said housing, one of said valves being xed relative tothe rotor and the other being movable relative thereto.

12. A priming device for an internal combusetion engine comprising conduits adapted to deliver fuel to the intake ports, an atomizing device for forming a mixture of fuel and air, and means for delivering said mixture under pressure to the intake ports of the engine, said atomizing device comprising a rotor, a housing therefor, means for admitting air and fuel to the housing,

separate valves carried by the rotor for con` trolling the admission of fuel and air l to said housing, one of said valves being fixed on said rotor and the other being movable thereon, and yielding means for holding said last named valve closed when the rotor is in normal position.

13. A priming device for an internal combustion engine comprising conduits adapted to deliver fuel to the intake ports, an atomizing device for forming a mixture of fuel and air, and means for delivering said mixture under pressure to the intake ports of the engine, said atomizing device comprising a rotor, a housing therefor, means for admitting air and fuel to the housing, separate valves carried by the rotor forcontrolling the admission of fuel and air to said housing, said valves being coaxial and one of said valves being fixed on said rotor and the other being movable thereon, and yielding means for holding said last named valve closed when the rotor is in normal position.

' JOHN B. DYER. 

